1. Three Causes of Disease

Teachers of Ayurveda, particularly David Frawley in his book “Ayurveda and the Mind”, affirm that there are three main causes of diseases:

1) Karma: Results and consequences of activities and the way of thinking which one had in this and past lives.

2) Excess of rajas and tamas: It appears in the mind and consequently in one’s life in general. It is necessary to have some amount of tamas and rajas in one’s life to live in harmony in this world in this particular body – for performing some activities, for maintaining a material form, for destroying something obsolete, for sleep, etc. But the higher the level of personal development, the less tamas and rajas is required in one’s life; if they increase even slightly, then they become the cause of diseases and sufferings.

3) Imbalance of doshas: Doshas are the main types of constitution of the human body. Usually imbalance is a result of one not living in accordance with one’s body type and (or) external factors. (We will scrutinize the doshas shortly).

These three causes are normally connected with each other. The imbalance of doshas is usually caused by the excess of rajas and tamas, which in return reflect a deeper karmic disharmony. Therefore, to neutralize the above mentioned factors ayurvedic treatment considers three options:

1) Appropriate therapy for balancing the doshas. This can involve: a certain life-style, eating of adequate food, herbs, massage with different oils, purifying procedures, a clinical therapy by using energies opposite to imbalanced doshas, etc. We will discuss in a special chapter how to use psychology to balance the doshas.

2) Neutralization of rajas and tamas. The main methods used on this level in ayurvedic therapy and yoga are asanas (yogic postures), pranayama (breathing techniques), mantras (sound vibrations), meditation, a sattvic diet and life-style. This entire book is practically devoted to this subject.

3) Softening, changing of karma or even complete freedom from it. On this level the psychology of yoga and Ayurveda recommend pujas (religious rituals and ceremonies), mantras, prayer, serving a spiritual mentor, worshiping a manifested form of the Divine, etc. But the foremost, without which all the above can even bring harm, is to become unselfish, unattached, and to develop love for the Divine. It is important to gain a proper philosophical understanding and attitude toward the world, to perform sacrifices, to practice karma-yoga (unselfish activity). Some of the following chapters are devoted to this topic: how to change karma and purify its effects.

These three treatments are usually used together to varying degrees, depending on the needs of an individual. On all levels the mind is the root psychological or emotional cause and factor of disease. Therefore, in a separate chapter, we are going to examine the different stages of the mind and the ways to put the mind in order.

2. Imbalance of Doshas. Doshas and Gunas are Cured Together!

There are three main doshas or three body types: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Doshas, like toxins, accumulate negative emotions. For example, Vata amasses fear, Pitta – anger, and Kapha – attachments. This is very well known to those who study Ayurveda. Vata dosha is particularly widespread throughout the physical body, because the mind is also under its influence and consists of the same main elements – air and ether. The problems of Vata are usually psychological problems – fear, uncertainty, vulnerability and anxiety. The treatment of Vata always requires a substantial amount of psychology.

Pain of any origin in the first place causes Vata imbalance. Therefore, the treatment of any kind of pain must include a strong anti-Vata component. Stress also tries at the beginning to unbalance Vata, therefore an anti-stress therapy is aimed at reducing Vata.

However, the other two doshas also have key components in psychology which cannot be ignored. Each patient has a certain mental and physical energy which should be examined in order to develop an effective plan of treatment.

The three gunas are three main mental factors among which rajas manages ego impulses and tamas creates emotional lockups, insensibility or addictions. They complicate the treatment of doshas, because they produce attitudes in a patient that prevent a treatment from being successful even externally – in diet and herbal therapy.

One way or another, doshas and gunas should always be looked at as a whole and treated together. For example, an established imbalance of doshas always implies a certain amount of tamas, which reveals itself as an old injury, pain or weakness. A good ayurvedic doctor must know how to discriminate between various conditions at which a dosha is in a sattvic, rajasic of tamasic state. This is the foundation knowing which one can practice ayurvedic psychology.

Negative karma mainly occurs as a result of improper attitude (Pragyaparadha or Buddhi-dosha) including misuse of senses, emotions and intellect. It is a manifestation of a long-term imbalance of doshas and gunas in one’s mind. Such changes start with rajas, meaning self-will and stubbornness. Also they indicate the excess of tamas, which deprives one of the ability to see, to discern or change anything. The purpose of Ayurveda is not only to readjust the doshas and to elevate a patient to sattva guna, but also to reveal the karmic causes and karmic components (samskaras) concealed in his behaviour. Vedic astrology is an important tool to help understand karmic factors.

Therefore, in terms of ayurvedic practice we should understand the psychology of the doshas, gunas and karma. Here the mind plays the main role, while the body is just a place where disharmony finds shelter, where it reveals itself and becomes the cause of disease.

This extract  is taken from a new book by Rami Bleckt “Three Energies.”